"First Look" Photos

Has/is anyone done "first look" photos? Our ceremony is at sunset and we need to do our pictures beforehand so they're not done in the dark. I would love to hear your thoughts and see some shots if you had them done!

I haven't done them (obviously, since we're getting married next April LOL), but everytime I see them, I love them. I always think they're some of the sweetest, most personal photos - before you're in front of all the guests.

We're trying to figure out the logistics of doing them (getting off the ship at separate times, but seeing each other at the courthouse pre-ceremony).

We will be doing pictures before the ceremony as well. We are getting married this November and the sun will set at 5:10 so if we wanted to get pictures in after the ceremony but before the sun goes down then we would have the ceremony around 3:30pm. However, I don't want my guests to have to entertain themselves for a long time before the reception at dinner time. So that means pictures before the ceremony and the ceremony starting at 4:30pm.

So I will definitely be setting up a first look. I have seen first look pictures staged in a resort's garden area, on a pier, on decks, etc. I plan on scoping out the resort the couple of days before the wedding to pick the best location. You want to find a place with a nice walkway for you to approach but also a nice backdrop for the pictures.

The pictures that I have seen are a series that include the following:

1. photographer taking a picture of the groom's front while the bride walks up in the background - you will want pictures with both of you in focus, then the groom in focus (bride out of focus), and lastly bride in focus (groom out of focus)

2. photographer moves around to behind bride and then the groom turns around so the groom's expression is captured - you will want pictures of just the groom's reaction along with some looking over the bride's shoulder at the groom

3. photographer moves around as the bride and groom embrace & kiss (would be a nice touch if the groom holds the bride's had and spins her around to see the whole dress)

Sorry I don't have pictures to show now, but as my wedding is in November you will get to see mine before your wedding day.

Originally Posted by cdc150

Has/is anyone done "first look" photos? Our ceremony is at sunset and we need to do our pictures beforehand so they're not done in the dark. I would love to hear your thoughts and see some shots if you had them done!

We will be doing pictures before the ceremony as well. We are getting married this November and the sun will set at 5:10 so if we wanted to get pictures in after the ceremony but before the sun goes down then we would have the ceremony around 3:30pm. However, I don't want my guests to have to entertain themselves for a long time before the reception at dinner time. So that means pictures before the ceremony and the ceremony starting at 4:30pm.

So I will definitely be setting up a first look. I have seen first look pictures staged in a resort's garden area, on a pier, on decks, etc. I plan on scoping out the resort the couple of days before the wedding to pick the best location. You want to find a place with a nice walkway for you to approach but also a nice backdrop for the pictures.

The pictures that I have seen are a series that include the following:

1. photographer taking a picture of the groom's front while the bride walks up in the background - you will want pictures with both of you in focus, then the groom in focus (bride out of focus), and lastly bride in focus (groom out of focus)

2. photographer moves around to behind bride and then the groom turns around so the groom's expression is captured - you will want pictures of just the groom's reaction along with some looking over the bride's shoulder at the groom

3. photographer moves around as the bride and groom embrace & kiss (would be a nice touch if the groom holds the bride's had and spins her around to see the whole dress)

Sorry I don't have pictures to show now, but as my wedding is in November you will get to see mine before your wedding day.

Just reading those descriptions of the pictures makes me want to do first look pictures!!!

Originally Posted by clgriffi7

We will be doing pictures before the ceremony as well. We are getting married this November and the sun will set at 5:10 so if we wanted to get pictures in after the ceremony but before the sun goes down then we would have the ceremony around 3:30pm. However, I don't want my guests to have to entertain themselves for a long time before the reception at dinner time. So that means pictures before the ceremony and the ceremony starting at 4:30pm.

So I will definitely be setting up a first look. I have seen first look pictures staged in a resort's garden area, on a pier, on decks, etc. I plan on scoping out the resort the couple of days before the wedding to pick the best location. You want to find a place with a nice walkway for you to approach but also a nice backdrop for the pictures.

The pictures that I have seen are a series that include the following:

1. photographer taking a picture of the groom's front while the bride walks up in the background - you will want pictures with both of you in focus, then the groom in focus (bride out of focus), and lastly bride in focus (groom out of focus)

2. photographer moves around to behind bride and then the groom turns around so the groom's expression is captured - you will want pictures of just the groom's reaction along with some looking over the bride's shoulder at the groom

3. photographer moves around as the bride and groom embrace & kiss (would be a nice touch if the groom holds the bride's had and spins her around to see the whole dress)

Sorry I don't have pictures to show now, but as my wedding is in November you will get to see mine before your wedding day.

I have been compiling pictures in word files to show my photographer what I want and I just remembered that I had copied these first look photos.

This whole picture is from a BDW bride's photo album, and it is a great way to see how the first look "story" can be told after the fact. I am sorry I didn't record this bride's name - but whoever she is she did a great job!